Boom—!
An expanding ring of golden mana blasted outward the moment the arrow left the string—a shockwave that rippled through the air and set the tall maple trees rustling. Leaves scattered, and branches swayed.
And the arrow itself turned into a golden comet.
It spun so fast that it became a blur, cutting through the air like a beam from the sun itself.
Kai's pupils dilated as the world slowed around him.
Becoming an Aspirant Supernal had done more than strengthen his body—it had sharpened his perception, too, stretching the milliseconds into something he could perceive, react to, and then counter.
He saw the arrow's rotation, saw its path, and saw the moment it would reach him.
Since Layra wanted to see how strong she really was compared to him, he didn't try to dodge the lethal arrow. Instead, he decided he would meet it head-on. He planted his foot forward—and the ground fractured beneath the weight of his stance.
